Snap switch



Dec. 12, 1933. H. HUBBELL, JR., ET AL SNAP SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 20, 1932 Dec. 12, 1933. H. HUBBELL, JR, Er AL 1,939,052

SNAP SWITCH Filed Jan. 20, 1932' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m5. w mQZWZZ Patented Dec. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES SNAP swrro'n Harvey Hubbell, Jr.,

and Charles E. Avery,

Bridgeport, Coma, assignors to Harvey Hubbell, Incorporated, Bridgeport, Comm, a corporation of Connecticut Application January 20, 1932. Serial No. 587,624

. 13 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful im provements in electrical contact devices and has particular relation to electrical snap switches.

An object of the invention is to provide a snap switch wherein as the switch handle is operated,

the movable contact is rocked or given a preliminary movement before snapping out of engagement with the stationary contact thereby giving a longer break and preventing sticking or freezing and eliminating the occasion for a mechanical kick-off means.

Another object is to provide a snap switch wherein the parts are so constructed that they may be made at relatively low cost and easily l5 and quickly assembled whereby the device may be manufactured at a comparatively low price.

A further object is' to provide a snap switch including a hollow body of insulating material, the body being open at one end or side and receiving the stationary and movable contacts, means being provided for operating the movable contact, and a bridge or yoke being disposed across the open side of the body and secured to the body and acting to mount the operating member and secure the contacts within the body.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it will be understood that the description and the drawings are for the purpose of disclosure and that the invention is not limited to the details shown but include all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims to which claims reference should be had fora definition of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale of a complete snap switch in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, parts being broken away to better illustrate details of 25 construction;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view substantially along the line 55 of 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail section view illustrating the operation;

Fig. '7 is a detail view illustrating the method of mounting a movable contact operating member on the bridge or yoke of the switch;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the movable contact; I

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the carrier for the movable contact and also illustrating the means for mounting this-carrier;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an insulating washer employed between the operating spring and the movable contact;

Fig. 12 is a detail view illustrating a step in the formation of the bridge or yoke; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on the line 1313 of Fig. 12.

Referring in detail to the drawings, at 15 is shown the hollow body of the switch open at one side or end as at its top side and closed at its opposite side or end as by the bottom wall 16. This body may be formed of any suitable insulating material and while porcelain is preferred it will be understood that the body may be molded of a phenolic condensation product or the like.

The body 15 is preferably molded and is pro vided with a curved surface 17 on the inner sur-\ 7 face of its bottom wall and in this surface of the bottom wall is provided with a pair of spaced so grooves 18 curved on their bottom walls as shown. These grooves are disposed one to each side of the longitudinal center line of the surface 17 and the grooves are adapted to co-operate with the movable contact of theswitch as will later be described. Also molded on the interior of the body and with the body are a pair of abutments orlimiting shoulders 19, the function of which will later appear.

Within the body and toward one end thereof, there is provided a pair of spaced stationary contacts 20, said stationary contacts each including a perforated portion 21 having a binding screw 22 threaded through a reinforcement 21a, and a portion 23 arranged substantially at right angles to the perforated portion 21. Toward its opposite sides the body 15 is molded with a pair of recesses or wells 24, and eachof these wells is adapted to receive the stem portion of one of A the binding screws 22 when the stationary con- 10o tacts 20 are assembled on the body. I

It will be noted that the recesses 24 for the reception of the stems for the binding screws 22 are formed in lateral enlargements 25 of the bodv and that, see Fig. 4, the recesses are of such diameter and length that the screws 22 fit loose- 1y therein and may be dropped into the recesses, the reinforcements fitting sufficiently close to prevent distortion of contacts 20 when binding screws are tightened. The inner surfaces of the 1 lateral enlargements are disposed substantial ly straight as at 26 or at right angles to the upper or outer surfaces 27 thereof. Between the enlargements 25, the inner surface of the bottom wall of the body is provided with converging in- I clined walls or surfaces 28 each beginning at the bottom edge of one of the straight walls 26 and inclining toward the longitudinal center-line of binding screws 22 are preferably first threaded through the perforated portions 21 of the stationary contacts 20 after which the contacts are inserted or dropped into the body with the stems of the screws disposed in the recesses 24 and with the portions 23 of the contacts disposed against the vertical or straight walls 26 of the body and with their lower edges in contact with the inclined walls 28 of the body. From this it will be seen that due to the structure of the parts, particularly the body, the stationary contacts are secured against lateral movement, except when accompanied by a vertical movement, merely by dropping or inserting the contacts I into their proper positions. The straight walls 26 hold the contacts against movement in one direction while the inclined walls 28' hold them against movement in the opposite direction.

Disposed across or mounted on the open end or side of the body 15 is a yoke or bridging member 31 preferably formed of metal. This yoke or bridging member 31 serves together with the insulating piece 36 which will be described later, to secure the stationary contacts 20 against movement'in a. direction outwardly of the body and thus serves to prevent any movement of the stationary contacts. Also, as will later be described the bridge provides means for mounting the switch in a wall box or the like and forms a pivot mounting for an operating member and additionally functions to maintain the movable contact of the switch in proper assembled relation within the body. Body 15 is inclined on its lower surface toward its ends as at 32 and through these end portions the body is provided with vertical openings 33 the said openings toward their lower ends being enlarged as clearly shown in Fig. 5. In assembling the bridge or yoke on the body screws 34 passing through the openings 33 are threaded into openings provided for that purpose in the bridge whereby the bridge is secured in place on the body. The heads of the screws 34 are received in the enlarged lower portions of the openings or holes 33 and may engage the shoulders formed at the juncture of the restricted and enlarged portions of the openings to draw the bridge into firm contact with the upper or forward surface of the body. i

In their vertical portions 23 the stationary contacts 20 are each provided'with a slot 35, the said slots extending downwardly from the upper edges of said portions of the contacts and terminating short of the wall 29 above referred to. A somewhat T-shaped piece 36 of fibre board or other insulating material is arranged in inverted relation with its arm 36a entering the notches or slots 35 in the stationary contact and engaging the lower ends of said slots. This piece 36 extends vertically or outwardly relative to the body and on its upper end is provided with a reduced portion or lug 3'7 entering a recess or opening 38in the bridge or yoke 31.

From the foregoing taken particularly in connection with Figs. 4, 5 and 6, it will be apparent that the dimensions of the insulating board or material 36 is such that the ends of the arms of said piece enter the slots or recess 35 of the stationary contacts in a manner to completely fill said recesses and that the member extends up so that its shoulders 36b are in engagement with the underside of the bridge, and the member will be held against lateral movement by the lug 3'7. As screws 34 are tightened-in securing the bridge in place the member 36 will press downwardly or inwardly against the stationary contacts and such contacts will. of course, be held against movement in a direction outwardly of the body. Since the contacts will thus be held against movement outwardly of the body they will be held against all movement as the straight surfaces 26 and the .inclined surfaces 28 will serve to hold the contacts against lateral movement when such lateral movement is unaccompanied by vertical or outward movement.

Within the body 15 is a movable contact 39 adapted to be moved into engagement with the contacts 20 to complete a circuit between them and adapted to be snapped out of engagement with the stationary contacts to open the circuit between them. This movable contact element 39 is shown in perspective in Fig. 9 and includes a body portion 40 having side walls 41 disposed substantially at right angles thereto, said sidewalls extending beyond or rearwardly of the body and at their end portions being somewhat enlarged as at 42 for engagement with the portions 30 of the stationary contacts. Through their lower edges the side walls 41 of the contact element 39 are notched or recessed as at 43 whereby the element may be rockably or movably mounted on a swingable carrier as will be described.

The swingable carrier generally indicated by the reference character 44 is, as clearly shown in Fig. 10, substantially in the form of a U-shaped stamping including arms 45 and a connecting portion 46 between the. lower ends of said arms. The upper or outer ends of the arms 45 are outturned or extended in opposite directions as at 47 to provide suspending means or lugs. This carrier 44 is mounted within the hollow body 15 for swinging movement therein and to this end the body in the inner surfaces of its sidewalls 48 is provided with substantially V-shaped notches 49, the notches opening through the outer surfaces of the walls and the notch in one sidewall of the body being arranged opposite the notch in the other sidewall of the body.

On the lower edge of itsconnection portion 46 the carrier 44 is provided with a stop lug 50 adapted to engage with the limiting shoulders 19 of the body to limit swinging movement of the carrier in either direction as later will become more apparent. on its upper edge this connecting portion carries an extension or lug 51 arranged intermediate and spaced from the arms 45 of the carrier and adapted to be received by the movable contact element 39 when said element is mounted on the carrier. Movable element 39 is mounted on the carrier by inserting said element between the arms of the carrier and in a position to have the notches 43 of the element receive the connecting portion 46 of the carrier at each end of the lug or extension 51. It will be obvious that the width of the substantially V-shaped notches 43 of -the contact element relative to the thickness of the connecting portion 46 of the carrier is such that the contact element may easily be rocked on the carrier.

After the carrier and movable contact have been assembled as just described an insulating washer 52 somewhat in the form of an (H), see Fig. 11, is slipped into place on top of the body portion 40 of the contact and between the arms of the carrier." The washer 52 is notched or recessed in its opposite ends as at 53 and intermediate its ends is provided with a raised disc-like portion 54 the function of which will later be given. In assembling'the washer on the previously assembled contact and contact carrier the arms of the carrier are received in the notches or recesses 53 in the ends of the washer whereby the washer may not be easily dislocated.

Next, a coil spring 55 is applied to the previously assembled parts and one of the end coils of. this spring is preferably of such diameter as to rather tightly embrace the disc-like projection 54 on the washer 52 whereby when the spring has been pressed into place it will remain mounted on the washer and located between the arms 45 of the contact carrier 44. Into the upper end portion of the coil spring 55 there is inserted a coupling member 56 having outwardly extending portions 57 to rest on the end coil of the spring and through its upper end having a notch 58'to receive a portion of an operating member now to be described.

The operating member generally designated 59 includes a body of insulating material 60 forming a hand piece or handle and including skirt portions 61 usual in such constructions to close the opening in the face plate through which the handle projects. The member 59 includes a metallic insert 62 molded with and extending from the lower surface of the molded body or hand piece 60. This operating member is pivotally mounted on the bridge or yoke 31 as will later be described and the lower free end of the insert 62 member receives the upper portion of the coupling member 56 while the portion 65 of the operating member is received in the notch 58 in the outer end of the coupling member. As the. switch is snapped to one or the other of its positions one or the other of the portions 57 of the coupling member will enter the opening 64 in the inner end portion of the insert 62 of the operating member.

The pivotal mounting of the operatingmember 59 on the bridge 31 will now be described. Intermediate its ends the bridge is provided with an elongated opening66 in which the operating member is disposed andwhen the parts are assembled this openingis substantially closed by the body or hand portion 60 of the operating member to prevent the entrance of dust. On its outer edges substantially midway 'between the ends of its opening 66the bridge is provided with downwardly extending perforated ears or lugs 67, the ear or lug at one edge of the bridge being arranged opposite the ear or lug at .the other edge thereof. The insert 62 before referred to is formed with laterally extendinglugs 68 and these laterally extending 1113s of the insert are'received in the perforations in the ears or lugs 67 of the bridge whereby the operating member is pivotally mounted on the bridge.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the operating member is pivotally mounted on the bridge without the use of screws, rivets or the like, and the present invention includes a novel method of assembling the parts to provide this pivotal mounting. According to the invention the bridge or yoke is blanked wide as suggested by the broken lines in Figs. 7 and 8 and after the ears or lugs 67 have been bent downwardly into the broken line positions of Figs. '7 and 8 the operating member is inserted into the openings 66 in the bridge with the pivot lugs 68 of the insert 62 in alignment with the openings or perforations of the cars 67. Opening 66 is then closed laterally by pressing its sides inwardly from the dotted line position of Figs. '7 and 8 to the full line position of those figures and the operating member and bridge are then fully assembled with the operating member pivotally mountedon the bridge.-

When the bridge is being mounted on the body the inner end portion of the metallic insert 62 of the operating member 59 is brought into association with the coupling member or element 56 in the manner above described and the pivoting ears or lugs 67 of the bridge enter the notches or recesses 49 formed in the sidewalls of the body and receiving the end portions 47 of the arms of the contact carrier as above described; This arrangement provides for the proper locating. of the bridge on the body whereby the threaded openings in the bridge will be easily brought into alignment with the openings 33 through the body 110 whereby the screws 34 may quickly and without difficulty bev tightened to hold the bridge in place. Further, since the notches 49 are closed on their outer sides there will be no chance for the bridge to spread and thus have the ears or lugs move 5 apart in a manner to permit the pivot lugs 68 of the insert 62 to become free.

In the blanking of the bridge and particularly in the formation of the opening 66 in the bridge -small ears or lugs 69 are left projecting inwardly from opposite sides or edges of the bridge and these lugs are arranged in pairs adjacent opposite edges of the opening 66. In the initial blanking operation these lugs will be left extending as' suggested by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 12 and the lugs will thereafter be bent downwardly or atfright angles to the general plane of the bridge as shown clearly in 13. When the operating member 59 has been: assembled on the bridge as above described the lugs 69 will be arranged 1 one at each side of the insert 62 adjacent each end of said insert. The adjacent or opposed edges of the lugs are inclined as at 70 and these lugs act as positive stops to be engaged by the insert whereby'pivotal movement of the oper- 5 I ating member is positively limited. The angle between the surface 70 of the lugs will determine the extent of movement of the operating member. The outer end portions of the bridge may be off set upwardly as at 71 and these end portions may be provided with elongated openings 72 for the reception .of mounting screws as usual. H In assembling the improvedswitch the binding screws may be threaded through the stationary contacts and the resultant sub-assembly dropped 5 6r pressed into place on the body 15. Themovable contact 39 is assembled on the contact carrier '44, the insulating washer 52.is then positioned between the arms 45 of the carrier and on top of the body portion 40 of the contact and therewith its arms in the notches 35 in the stationary contacts and the operating member 59 having been pivotally mounted on the bridge or yoke 31 as above fully described, the bridge is positioned against the open side of the body. As the bridge is moved into position the lower or inner notched end of the metal insert 62 of the operating member is properly engaged with the coupling member or element 56 and the opening 38 in the bridge member receives the reduced portion or lug 3'7 of the member 36. The bridge is properly positioned by having its .perforated ears or lugs 37 disposed in the open ends of the notches 49 in the sidewalls of the body 15 and the proper threaded openings in the bridge areithereby brought into registry with the openings 33 through the body 15 whereby the screws 34 are easily inserted into place and tightened.

As the screws are drawn 'up or tightened the bridge is drawn into contact with the end wall of the body 15 resulting in the insulating member 36 being firmly held in place and in the coil spring 55 being somewhat compressed. It will be noted that in. the present construction none of the parts of the switch are riveted into place and no inserts are provided in the body, as by being molded in the body, for the reception of screws. The device is absolutelyfree of rivets and the only screws employed are, the two screws 34 which secure the bridge to the body and through the bridge operate to secure the stationary and movable contact elements.

Most of the parts employed are simple stampings, the bridge 31 being blanked and shaped and the contacts each being simple stampings as is the carrier 45-and insert 62. The improved switch may therefore be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

I stood that the movable contact is carried back and forth as the contact carrier 44 is swung about its pivot and during this movement clearance for the end or contact portions 42 of the arms 41 of the movable contact is provided by the grooves 18 in the lower or bottom wall of the body.

Assuming that, the switch is closed as shown in Fig. 5 and that it is desired to open the circuit, the operating element 59 is through'its body or finger grip portion 60 swung about its pivots into a position as shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the .circult will be opened. In Fig. 5 it will be noted that the coil spring 55 is for-the most part disposed toward the lower or right side of the center of the contact carrier 44. During initial movement of the operating element, as from the position of Fig. 5 or' dot and dash line position of Fig. 6, to the full line position of Fig. 6 the spring 55 is somewhat compressed and is moved more into a. position between the arms 45 of the contact carrier.

This initial movement of the operating member resulting in a movement and compression of the spring 55 causes the spring to act on the movable contact 39 a manner to rock said contact on the carrier 44 from its dot and dash line position of Fig. 6 to its full line position in that figure. A comparison of Figs. 5 and 6 will clearly show the rocking movement that has so taken place and it will be seen that the contact portions 42 of the movable contact 39 while remaining in engagement with the contact portions 30 of the stationary contacts 20 have moved downwardly or inwardly somewhat rela- 5 tive thereto while the carrier 44 remains stationary. This action will result in a loosening of the contacts and prevent their becoming stuck or frozen so that the switch member 39 is free to snap quickly away from the stationary contacts to open position of Fig. 2 as soon as spring 55 passes over the center, giving a quick break. This operation eliminates the necessity of a mechanical kick-off. 4

Further movement of the operating element toward the right in Fig. 6 will result in the spring 55 being shifted beyond the dead center of the carrier 44 and the spring will then react to snap the parts about the center or pivot of the carrier and the movable contact is carried out of engagement with the stationary contacts and into the position shown in Fig. 2. As before explained, the fingers or lugs 69 act to positively limit movement of the operating member about its pivot. The downwardly extending portion 50 of the carrier engages one or the other of the shoulders 19 formed with the body whereby movement of the carrier and parts thereon is also positively limited.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, what we claim is:

. 1 In a snap switch, a hollow body of insulating material, a stationary contact in said body, a contact carrier pivotally mounted in the body, said carrier comprising a substantially U-shaped -member pivotally mounted at the outer ends of its arms and having its connecting portion disposed inwardly of the body, a movable contact on the connecting portion of said carrier and movable therewith and relative thereto, a pivotally mounted operating member extending out of the body, aninsulating member on said movable contact, a coil spring between said operating member and said insulating member and forcing the latter against the movable contact and holding the movable contact in place on the carrier, 9. connection between the operating memher and the spring, said spring arranged whereby on initial movement of the operating element the coil spring is moved-and causes a preliminary movement of the movable contact on the carrier relative to thestationary contact, and said spring arranged whereby on further movement of the operating member the coil spring is shifted across the center of the pivot of the carrier and the carrier is shifted by the spring and snaps the movable contact out of engagement with the stationary contact.

2. In a snap switch, a hollow body of insulating material, a stationary contact in said body, a contact carrier, said carrier comprising a substantially U-shaped member having outwardly directed portions on its arms, said body notched in the inner surfaces of its opposite walls to receive the outwardly directed portions of the arms of the carrier whereby the carrier is pivotally mounted in the body and with its connecting portion disposed inwardly of the body, a movable contact on the connecting portion of said carrier and movable therewith and relative 150 thereto, a pivotally mounted operating member extending out of the body, aninsulating member on said movable contact, a coil spring between saidoperating member and said insulating member and forcing the latter against the movable contact and holding the movable contact in place on the carrier, a connection between the operating member and the spring, said coil spring arranged whereby on initial movement of the operating element the coil spring is moved and causes a preliminary movement of the movable contact on the carrier relative to the stationary contact, and said coil spring arranged to be shifted across the center of the pivot ofthe carrier and shift the carrier to snap the movable contact-out of engagement with the stationary contact on further movement of the operating member.

3. In a snap switch, a hollow body of insulating material, a stationary contact in said body, a contact carrier pivotally mounted in the body, said carriercomprisin'g a substantially U-shaped member pivotally mounted at the outer ends of its arms and having its connecting portion disposed inwardly of the body, a movable contact, said movable contact including'a body portion having inwardly directed side walls, said sidewalls notched through their inner edges and adapted to receive the connecting portion of the carrier whereby the movable contact is movable with the carrier and rockable thereon within the limits defined by the edges of said notches, a pivotally mounted operating member extending out of the body, an insulating member on said movable contact, a coil spring between said operating member and said insulating member and forcing the latter against the movable contact and thereby holding the movable contact in place on the carrier, a connection between the operating member and the spring, said connection providing means whereby on initial movement of the operating member the coil spring is moved to -a position to unbalance and cause a rocking movement of the movable contact on the carrier relative to, the stationary contact, and said coilspring arranged to be shifted across the center of the pivot of the carrier and shift the carrier and snap the -movable contact out of engagement with the stationary contact on further movement of said operating member.

4. In a snap switch, a hollow body of insulating material, said body having an open end, a stationary. contact in said body, a contact carrier, said carrier comprising a substantially U-shaped member having outwardly directed portions on its arms, said body notched in the inner surfaces of its opposite walls to receive the outwardly directed portions of the arms of the carrier whereby the carrier is pivotally mounted in the body with its connecting portion disposed inwardly of the body, a movable contact on the .connecting portion of the carrier and movable therewith and relative thereto, a bridge disposed against the open end of said body, said bridge having lugs entering the open ends of the notches in the walls of the body to locate the bridge on thebody, an operating member extending out of the body, means mounting the operating member on the lugs of the bridge, an.

insulating member on said movable contact, a coil spring between said operating member and [said insulating member and forcing the latter inner end of said straight wall, a contact within said body and having a portion disposed against said straight wall and a portion engaging said inclined wall, and a piece of insulating material extending between said contact and a portion of the bridge and holding the contact in place in the body and against movement in a direction parallel with said straight wall.

6. In a snap switch, a hollow body of insulating material, said body having an open end, a movable contact in the body, an operating mem- 'ment of the operating member will be transmitber for controllingthe movement of said movable contact, a bri e on the open end of the body, said operating member extending through said bridge, said body including a portion having a straight wall and an inclined wall extending from the inner end of said straight wall, a stationary contact within said body and having a portion disposed against the straight wall and a portion engaging said inclined wall, and a piece of insulating material extending between said stationary contact and a portion of the bridge and holding said" contact in place against movement in a direction parallel with said straight wall. Y

7. In a snap switch, a hollow body of insulat-,

1 tion disposed against one of said straight walls and a portion engaging one of said inclined walls, and a piece of insulating material'engaging each of said stationary contacts and a portion of the bridge and holding each of said contacts against movement in a direction parallel with its straight wall whereby the inclined walls hold the contacts against movement at right angles to said straight walls. Y

8. In a snap switch, a hollow bodyof insulating material, said body having an open end, a movable contact in the body, an operat' g member for controlling the movement of sai contact, a bridge on the open end of the body, said operating member extending through said bridge, said body including a pair of straight walls and a pair of inclined walls extending one from the inner end of each of the straight walls, a pair of stationary contacts each having a portion disposed against one of said straight walls and a portion engaging one of said inclined walls, said contacts each having a notch in' its upper edge, and a piece of insulating material entering each of said notches and engaging a portion of the bridge and holding each said contacts against movement in a direction parallel with its straight wall whereby the inclined walls hold the contacts against movement at right angles to the straight walls.

9. In a snap switch, a hollow body of insulating material open through one of its ends, a stationary contact in said body, a contact carrier, said carrier comprising a substantially U-shaped member having outwardly directed portions on its arms, said body having notches in the inner surfaces of its opposite walls and opening through its open end and receiving the outwardly directed portions of the arms of the carrier whereby the carrier is pivotally mounted in the body, a movable contact on the carrier and movable therewith and relative thereto, an operating member to move said carrier and said movable contact, a bridge across the open end of the body, said operating member extending through the bridge, a pair of pivot lugs on the operating member, a pair of cars on the bridge, each of said ears having a perforation receiving one of said pivot lugs whereby the operating member is pivotally mounted on the bridge, and said ears adapted to be disposed in the open ends of said notches to properly locate the bridge on the body.

10. In a snap switch, a body of insulating material, a stationary contact in said body, a contact carrier pivotally mounted in the body, said carrier comprising a U-shaped member having its connecting portion disposed inwardly of the body, a movable contact, said movable contact including a body portion having inwardly directed side walls, said side walls notched through their inner edges, said contact mounted on the carrier with the connecting portion of the carrier loosely received in said notches whereby the contact is rockable on the carrier within the limit defined by the edges of said notches, a pivotally mounted operating member extending out of the body, a connection between said operating member and the movable contact, said connection constructed to, on initial movement of the operating member, rock said movable contact on the carrier tobring an edge of one of said notches into engagement with the connecting portion of the carrier and to cause the movable contact to move on the stationary contact, and said connection adapted on further movement of the operating member to cause said movable contact to 'force the carrier to swing on its pivots and shift the movable contact out of engagement with the stationary contact.

11. In a snap switch, a body of insulating material, a stationary contact in said body, a contact carrier pivotally mounted in the body, said carrier comprising a U-shaped member having its connecting portion disposed inwardly of the body, a movable contact, said movable contact including a body portion having inwardly directed side walls and'rearwardly extending contact portions, said side walls notched through their inner edges, said contact mounted on the carrier with the connecting portion of the carrier loosely received in said notches whereby the contact is rockable on the carrier within the limit defined by the edges of said notches, a pivotally mounted operating member extending out of the body, a connection between said operating member and the movable contact, said connection constructed to, on initial movement of the operating member, rock said movable contact on the carrier to carry said rearwardly extending contact portions downwardly with respect to the stationary contact while in engagement therewith, and said connection adapted on further movement of the operating member to cause said movable contact to force the carrier to swing on'its pivots and shift the movable contact out of engagement with the stationary contact.

12. In a snap switch, spaced stationary contacts, a swinging carrier, a switch contact carried by the carrier to and from engagement with the stationary contacts, said switch contact having downwardly extending side members having notches to seat on the carrier and of greater width than the carrier to permit limited rocking movement of the contact on the carrier, and a toggle mechanism for swinging the carrier including a pivoted lever and a spring connected at one end to the lever and at the other end resting on the switch contact so that initial lateral movement of the spring will rock the contact on the carrier.

13. In a snap switch, a pivoted carrier having a transverse bar portion, a switch contact having notches to seat on said bar portion and 0! greater width than said bar portion to permit limited rocking movement of the contact on the carrier, and a toggle mechanism for swinging the carrier including a spring supported at one end on the contact and means for swinging the other end to compress the spring and cause its initial lateral movements torock the contact on the carrier.

HARVEY HUBBELL, JR. CHARLES E. AVERY. 

